Study on protective effect of curcumin against the irradiation damage of testis in mice induced by ¹²C⁶⁺ ion beams

The protective effect of Curcumin (Cur) against the irradiation damage of testis in mice induced by ¹²C⁶⁺ ion beams was studied. Male Kung-Ming mice were exposed to whole body uniformly irradiated with ¹²C⁶⁺ ion beams at 4 Gy after pretreated with Cur of different concentration. Then histological alterations were observed. Moreover, malonaldehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and catalase (CAT) activity were also measured at 24 h after irradiation. The result showed that middle and high dose Cur pretreated have a good protective effect. Compared with irradiated group, MDA level decreased dramatically in the group of pretreatment with low and middle dose Cur (P < 0.05). On the contrary, SOD activity in the pretreated group with low dose Cur significantly increased (P < 0.05). Similarly, CAT activity in the pretreated group with middle dose Cur significantly increased (P < 0.05). Data suggested that Cur could activate antioxidant system of testis in mice induced by ¹²C⁶⁺ ion beams, it have some protective effect to radiation damage. The mechanism may involve in its scavenging reactive oxidant species and then protecting lipid and protein capability. (authors)